Pacific Fishing is published for commercial fishermen and seafood business professionals.

Monday, February 7, 2011

SARAH DISMISSES MERE 'BAIT'

Some "faceless dem government bureaucrat" has destroyed hard-working farmers' lives "in order to protect a two-inch fish. Now, where I come from, we call that 'bait.' And there is no need to destroy people's lives over that bait."

Obama salmon joke not so funny

With Curry County's unemployment rate nearing 13 percent, I was anxious to hear President Barack Obama's State of the Union address and his vision to revitalize the economy. Imagine my surprise when it turned out the highlight of Tuesday night's address was his salmon one-liner.

Greens favor feds' sea lion measures

Oceana and Greenpeace, represented by Earthjustice, filed motions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska in support of conservation measures implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to protect the Steller sea lion.

Good news from the Sacramento

California's beleaguered salmon fishermen are cautiously optimistic after the state released new data showing that more salmon returned to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta last fall than any year since 2006.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

EPA ENTERS FRAY OVER PEBBLE MINE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct a scientific assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed to better understand how future large-scale development projects may affect water quality and Bristol Bay's salmon fishery, an extraordinary salmon resource for the United States.

Editorial: EPA's Pebble study justified

Foes of the mine didn't get what they wanted, which was a swift, pre-emptive EPA rejection of Pebble. Advocates of the mine and other projects didn't get what they wanted, either, which is essentially for the EPA to butt out.

Court rejects loggers' coho plea

Not only has the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied a petition to remove coho salmon south of the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the list of Threatened and Endangered Species, but it plans to expand the southern boundary of the protected population.

L.A. to boot fishing from port

Under pressure to provide more space for containers and other trade-related industries, the Port of Los Angeles is about to embark on a Terminal Island revitalization project that could displace what remains of the historic fishing operation.

Indications good for Alaska salmon market

Final forecasts for the 2011 salmon season won't be out for a few weeks, but early indicators point to another good fishery. Total Alaska catches are likely to be close to last year's 168 million salmon, perhaps down slightly. And industry watchers predict the continuing strong demand will mean good prices for wild salmon.

– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch reporting in Fish Radio

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

FIVE RESCUED OFF UNALASKA

A Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter crew from Kodiak rescued five fishermen from the disabled and adrift 58-foot long-liner TerriGail in 50 mph winds and 10 foot seas about two miles from Unalaska and transferred them to the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau.

Columbia Chinook seasons set

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon set fishing seasons for Columbia River spring Chinook salmon and white sturgeon that are expected to draw nearly two hundred thousand anglers to the big river this year.

Sacramento Chinook still low, but better

Three years of restrictions on ocean fishing seem to have paid off with a bigger run of Chinook, but there are still far fewer salmon laying eggs in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system than fishermen would like.

Salmon farmers' video may backfire

Although the video was released in an attempt to promote aquaculture as a sustainable way to produce seafood, it ironically highlights just how many food miles it takes to put farmed salmon on consumers' plates.

Walrus listing will wait

The Pacific walrus, hampered by vanishing sea ice in Arctic waters, deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act but must wait in line behind more imperiled animals, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said.

Federal fish management laws 'ridiculous'

Adak soap opera continues

We told you last month about Aleut Enterprise asking a judge to hold its former tenant, Adak Seafood, in deckboss.blogspot.com/Adak contempt for failure to pay $215,739.73 in rent. As you might imagine, Adak Seafood has quite a different view of the situation, arguing the most it might owe in rent is $33,000.

Columbia hatchery report ETA unknown

Comment on NOAA aquaculture policy

The Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released complementary draft national aquaculture policies that support sustainable marine aquaculture to increase the U.S. supply of healthy seafood, create jobs in coastal and other communities, spur innovation in technology, and help restore depleted species and marine habitats.

N. Cal troll season looking brighter

Commercial salmon fishermen in California caught about half what they expected during the tightly restricted season last year, but after three years on the skids, there are signs that fishing will pick up this year.

– Pacific Fishing columnist John Driscoll, writing in the Eureka Times Standard

Pacific Seafoods donates life vests

The Pacific Seafood Group recently donated 50 life vests to fishermen on the Columbia River from the Yakima, Umatilla, Nez Peirce, and Warm Springs tribes. The donation was in response to learning of the tragic and unfortunate drowning of three fishermen last year. In the past three years, nine fishermen have lost their lives on the Columbia River.

B.C. foe: Alaska ranched salmon 'wasted'

More than 95 per cent of Alaskan ranched salmon are never harvested. They get eaten by other fish. All of the feed pellets given to these hatchery salmon, at a cost to Alaska of $20 million per year, are virtually wasted.

Tough luck tuna, Charlie, 50 years old

Tongass holds less timber than thought

A new study says the Tongass National Forest has about a third less second-growth timber than officials thought. The study also includes a reminder that the region is still decades away from any substantial young-growth harvests.

Sarah's show wants tax credits

Alaska Fisheries Report

This week: The EPA announces it will study the Bristol Bay watershed and look at potential impacts of development, including hard rock mining like the Pebble Mine... Lawsuits have been filed on both sides over controversial closures to protect the endangered Steller sea lion... There's federal loan money available for skippers and crew to get back into crabbing… Initiatives are in the works to address concern about halibut ending up as bycatch… Plus farmed salmon stocks from South America appear to be making a come back after being devastated by disease.

Fishing training classes?

To help Alaska coastal communities prepare their residents for the fishing jobs of the future, the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program is floating the idea of a professional fisherman's training program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.